Master Craftsmen: Rising Since 1959

Chapter 27: Deputy Factory Director Liu Marginalized, Liu 3 Dismissed

Deputy Factory Director Liu had previously thought that the ministry would investigate and find something.

Even if no major problems are found, there are always a few minor issues that can be pointed out. As long as Chen Weiguo's reputation is tainted, and with some manipulation from the sidelines, it might be possible to suppress him.

But he never expected that,

During the face-to-face investigation by the two experts from the ministry, Chen Weiguo not only did not falter, but also convinced them completely, and the investigation by the military was also thorough.

This is just great,

The phone call he made to the ministry backfired spectacularly. Not only did the ministry not stop supporting Chen Weiguo, it also officially confirmed the matter with a formal document.

Zhao Dehai reacted extremely quickly.

Less than two hours after hanging up the phone with the department, he convened a special meeting of the factory's Party Committee.

All the Party Committee members were present in the meeting room, but Deputy Factory Director Liu looked ashen-faced.

His previous claims about "qualification review," "confidential procedures," and "unknown sources" all became a joke in the face of the official document.

Zhao Dehai showed no mercy at the meeting, laying bare all the things that Deputy Factory Director Liu had done recently.

From using the personnel department to investigate Chen Weiguo's family background, to pressuring the technology department to restart the confidentiality review of Waveform Blade, and then to making false accusations to the ministry, every single one of these actions is laid out clearly.

Zhao Dehai made a decision: "As the deputy factory director, you used the power given to you by the organization to punish a meritorious technical backbone behind the scenes. You know the nature of this behavior. I demand that you make a profound self-criticism. In addition, it is no longer appropriate for you to stay in the main factory. The machine repair branch is short of a factory director. You will be transferred there at the same level. You should express your opinion."

Deputy Factory Director Liu's lips trembled several times.

Although his rank remained the same, being transferred from the deputy director of the Yanjing Machinery General Factory to a machine repair branch factory meant that his responsibilities were reduced many times over. Not to mention that the branch factory was far from the central authority, so no one would listen to him in the factory anymore.

But Zhao Dehai had already made his point, and the ministry's documents were there; it would be undignified for him to persist, so he could only grit his teeth and agree.

All the other leaders in the conference room were watching the two of them.

No one expected that Zhao Dehai would go to such lengths for Chen Weiguo, directly removing a deputy factory director. Although he wasn't officially dismissed, being transferred to a branch factory essentially meant being marginalized.

Zhao Dehai said with satisfaction, "I will submit a report to the ministry explaining the reasons for this personnel adjustment."

Deputy Factory Director Liu has completely lost face.

When the meeting ended, he slunk out of the conference room on his own. Even the middle-level managers who usually fawned over him avoided him, and no one dared to speak to him.

As soon as Deputy Factory Director Liu was transferred, the security department seized the opportunity to dig up Liu San's old grievances.

After Liu San was assigned to clean toilets, he hadn't behaved himself, but since he was still a factory worker and his uncle was the deputy director, the security department hadn't really dealt with him properly.

Now that Deputy Factory Director Liu has been marginalized, the security department has been able to dig up all the accounts he embezzled during the years he was a warehouse manager, and they've also pieced together his testimony about colluding with Huang Maocai to tamper with the inspection department.

The case was reported to the factory administration for multiple offenses.

Zhao Dehai looked at the document and sneered, then picked up a pen and wrote two words on it:

Expelled.

These days, firing a regular worker is a huge deal; the process is very complicated, and it often requires approval from higher authorities.

But Zhao Dehai slammed his pen down: "His behavior not only violates factory rules, it's illegal. The factory is being lenient by not pursuing criminal charges against him. What else is there to discuss?"

That evening, Liu San knelt at the door of Deputy Factory Director Liu's house and pounded on it desperately, shouting, "Uncle, please save me, you're my own uncle!"

The commotion outside woke up all the neighbors, but the door didn't open even a crack.

The next morning, the security guards came and dragged Liu San out of the stairwell to be evicted. They didn't even have time to properly tie up his bedding before throwing him out of the factory gate.

The workers in the foundry were overjoyed when they heard about it, and the workshop was bustling with excitement.

An old worker who had been bullied by Liu San before specially obtained a string of firecrackers from somewhere and set them off outside the workshop. Everyone felt that this was a very satisfying thing to do.

……

Soon it was time for winter vacation to begin, and Chen Weiguo had tidied up all the school affairs.

I rolled up my bedding and put it in the dormitory closet. I said goodbye to Liu Changsheng and Zhou Guoqiang and then went home for the holidays.

This whole semester has been a whirlwind of work, from coatings and wave-shaped blades to cutting tool models. I've been so busy I haven't had a moment to breathe. Even when I came home on weekends, it was always a rush. This time, I can finally spend some quality time with my sister for the New Year.

As soon as the car turned into the entrance of Daxing Hutong, he saw Chen Weihong standing at the gate of the courtyard, looking in his direction. He didn't know how long she had been waiting there.

As soon as she saw his car, she ran over: "Brother, why are you only coming back now?"

Chen Weiguo got out of the car and pulled her cotton hat down a little: "What are you doing waiting at the door in this freezing weather? What if you get frostbite?"

Once inside, Chen Weihong eagerly pulled a report card from her schoolbag and handed it to him.

When Chen Weiguo opened the document, she saw that she was first in the class in the final exam, with her scores in all subjects ranking high. She got 98 in math, 95 in Chinese, and even 92 in physics, which she usually struggled with the most.

Chen Weihong stood beside him, chin tilted back, her expression clearly waiting for praise. She casually asked, "Brother, what do you think?"

Chen Weiguo praised, "Of course you're number one in the class! You've really put in the effort this semester."

Upon hearing this, Chen Weihong perked up, moved a small stool to sit in front of him, and began chattering about things at school.

Li Guilan used to call her into her office and lecture her all the time, saying that she was backward in her thinking and greedy for comfort. These past few months, she has avoided her whenever she sees her, and doesn't even make eye contact with her.

Chen Weiguo asked, "Did she specifically name you when she later mobilized others to go to the countryside?"

Chen Weihong raised her chin: "She'd like to, but she doesn't dare! The principal specifically praised me for my excellent character and academic performance at the school assembly. What can a homeroom teacher like her say?"

Chen Weiguo listened to her talk for a long time with a smile, feeling extremely comfortable.

When he went to the school to talk to the principal last time, he used his parents' pension certificate, hoping that his younger sister could study in peace and not be forced to go to the countryside. It seems that the effect is very good.

Chen Weiguo then asked Chen Weihong which university she wanted to apply to and whether she had made up her mind.

Without hesitation, Chen Weihong replied, "Yanjing University of Technology!"

She had already inquired about it; the school's engineering program was exceptionally strong, and graduates could be assigned to good companies. Moreover, it was located in Yanjing, close to home, so she could come back on weekends.

Chen Weiguo nodded: "Okay, with your grades, you'll have no problem getting into Yanjing University of Technology. Just study hard, and don't worry about tuition or living expenses. Your brother earns seventy-six yuan a month, which the factory still pays, so supporting you through university won't be a problem at all."